new zealand is a country that is in enormous partnership with us at this time, assisting in afghanistan, engaged in transpacific trade deliberations with us, and in many, many other ways contributing to one of the strongest and best partnerships we have on a global basis. therefore, i would ask unanimous consent that the senate stand in recess subject to the call of the chair so that colleagues might welcome the prime minister to the floor of the united states senate. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection, the senate stands in recess subject to t twitter.com c-span wj is how you can reach us. one of the headlines this morning. the deficit cutting plan too much too late. talks between various members. the government reporter can we first go on to the gang of 6 proposals? if from bloo bloomberg news. is that what they are thinking on capitol hill today? >> yes. the gang of six came out with their proposal. it's fairly sweeping. i think there's a sense more among -- there's a sense among some lawmakers that they are trying to sign on to this. there was a letter that